A Cheap Bastard...

and now, a post from special guest blogger, 57 year-old, newark taxi driver, mohamed khalil:**

a few weeks ago, on april 21, i picked up a collar-popped yuppie wannabe with a violin case at newark airport; my last fare before heading home for the night. after arriving at his destination and stopping the meter, he handed me $40 for his $39 fare and said heroically "keep the change." i fakely smiled and waited for him after he closed the door, to see if he was going to try and cross the street; because after all of that and a long day of work, i was feeling a little frisky and wanted to play a little game of chicken. no dice.

the next day was my first day off in two weeks, so i decided to kick back and watch maury povich with my hookah and a nice bowl of kava. and what to my wondering eyes should appear but my collar-popped yuppie with a red tinge to his ears. he was begging and pleading for any information regarding his lost violin, which he had left in his taxicab on his way back from the airport. after recognizing him, i check the back seat of my pimped out taxi with rims, and low and behold, there was his beloved violin. i made contact with him through the information on the news, and arranged a meeting to return his violin. the next day i reluctantly met with him again and returned his crusty old violin and he gave me a $100 reward.

the next day on the news, i find out that that 'crusty' viloin was made in 1723. it didn't belong to mr. philippe quint, he had borrowed it from some kabillionaires in upstate new york. it's valued at 4 MILLION DOLLARS! a 4 million dollar violin that this dumbass leaves in a taxi, and i get $100 bucks? oh, and least i forget the 'free' 30 minute concert at the taxi-stand at newark airport. thanks phil, you're generosity is deeply appreciated. i'll remember that next time you cheap bastard. i should have sold it on ebay!

**mohamed khalil had absolutely nothing to do with the actual writing of this entry. and to the contrary, he did not expect nor want any reward for returning the instrument. he made several comments about how he had merely done 'what any good american would have done.' the 57 year-old khalil emmigrated to the united states from egypt in 1980 and is a proud citizen of the united states.

here's a bit more info.